Page 57 of Say Yes to the Hot Mess

The water pressure in the shower is absurd; it’s coming down so hard that I yelp when the first drops of water hit my skin. It sounds like a rainstorm in here, the water pummeling the shower curtain and the tub beneath my feet. I wash quickly, grateful that I brought my own toiletries. I have thick hair, and a lot of it; it’s not the sort that does well with tiny bottles of hotel shampoo. I need hefty amounts of shampoo that lathers well; otherwise I have to use half a bottle in one go.

By the time I’m done, the water temperature and pressure combined have turned my skin a golden pink. But at least I’m clean, and I smell good. I take the next twenty minutes to dry my hair before braiding half of it into a crown, leaving the rest to fall down my back. Then I slip into the new pink dress I brought, admiring the fitted bodice and the loose skirt. I grab the nude heels I brought and step into them, then complete the look with a touch of eyeliner and mascara.

When I go back to the living area, Dex is no longer wearing sweats and a t-shirt. He has on navy pants with a white dress shirt, which he’s halfway done buttoning.

“Looking good, fake boyfriend,” I tell him. That’s allowed, right? He told me I was gorgeous earlier, so I should be allowed to say something similar.

He looks up, his eyes flitting over me. “Not so bad yourself, fake girlfriend,” he says, grinning. Then he nods to the couch, where I notice two ties draped over the back. “Choose whichever one of those matches you the best.”

I drift over to them, holding them up. There’s a blue one and a silvery-gray one, both very boring, though high quality.

“This one,” I say, holding up the silvery-gray. “My dress for tomorrow is blue.”

He nods, holding his hand out, and I toss him the silver tie. I watch in fascination as he ties it. I’m going to need to learn how to do that one day so I can help Archer.

“Teach me,” I find myself saying.

His hands pause as he looks at me. “Teach you what? How to tie a tie?”

“Yeah,” I say, moving closer to him. “I’ve never done it before.”

“You don’tneedto do it, either,” he points out.

“I know,” I say. “But someday Archer will need to tie a tie. Plus I’m just curious.”

Dex hesitates.

“Come on,” I say, clasping my hands together under my chin and giving him my best puppy-dog pout. “We have time, don’t we?”

He looks at me for a second, shaking his head and pointing one finger at my face. “I hope you don’t use that look irresponsibly,” he says. “Those sad eyes and the lips. Be careful with those.” Then he sighs, undoing the knot he just tied. “All right. Come here.”

I move closer, positioning myself in front of him.

“Right. So you have the short, skinny end on one side”—he waves the thinner end of the tie—“and the long, fat end on the other. Cross the long, fat end over the skinny end.”

I do so, looking at him.

He nods. “Good. Now loop it around the back—good—and now tuck it down through the middle. No, down,” he says when I accidentally try to put it through the wrong way. His hand covers mine, movements strong and sure, and I try to ignore the way my cheeks heat. I correct myself with the nudging of his fingers, and he nods again.

“Now what?” I say.

“Now pull the fat end to the other side and tuck it down through the middle again. Good. Now take it to the opposite side and wrap it around the front.”

“Got it,” I say. “Next?”

“Next you loop it through the middle again, from behind—”

“And then it goes underneath where it just crossed,” I finish, seeing the next step.

“Exactly. Now has this sated your tie curiosity?”

“Yes,” I say with satisfaction as I do the last bit, smiling at my handiwork. “I’m sorry. I know it’s weird. I just—” I break off, trying to find the right words. “I likelearningthings. Learning new skills or new ways of thinking or just random things I’m curious about.”

“An admirable quality.” Then he says quietly, “You look beautiful. Are you nervous? Are you ready for this?”

“I’m ready, I think,” I say just as softly. When I’m done with the knot, I don’t move my hand. I let it rest there instead, looking up at Dex. “It’s not like the focus will be on us or anything.”

“No,” he agrees.

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